Montana’s Wilderness Areas represent some of Montana’s finest, most special places: The Chinese Wall, the Beartooth Plateau and the Gates of the Mountains.

The Montana Wilderness Association will celebrate those places and the act that protects them.

MWA will hold a celebration for the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act on Sept. 5-7 in Seeley Lake.

The Wild 50th Fest includes guided hikes, live music, presentations and more.

This event is free and open to the public with no registration necessary. It’s based at Lindey’s Prime Steak House along Highway 83 and on the shore of Seeley Lake.

Throughout the weekend, 15 different hikes and tours are planned including a two-hour tour of Pyramid Mountain Lumber. Pyramid is the oldest family-owned and operated lumber mill in Montana.

The evening of Sept. 5, the Clearwater Resource Council will host a barbecue dinner and social followed by awards and live auction. Tim Ryan from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe will speak of the tribe’s dependency on a diverse, intact and functioning ecosystem.

Jack Gladstone, a well-known Blackfeet storysmith and lyricist, will give a special presentation including songs and stories in celebration of Montana’s wild places.

On Sept. 6 starting at 2 p.m., there will be display tables and family-friendly activities from more than 25 nonprofit organizations, government agencies and businesses. Kids of all ages can pick up a Wilderness Explorer booklet, collect stamps for completing activities and earn prizes throughout the day.

Also at 2 p.m., Matthew Peek from the Montana Historical Society will present Lee Metcalf and the Summer of 1964 and highlight the major events that occurred in Montana and the United States and how they impacted the final version of the Wilderness Act.

Kung Fu Kongress, a staple of the Missoula music scene with their eclectic sound of funk, jazz, rock, and soul, will perform at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 6. The night kicks into high gear with the legendary Mission Mountain Wood Band and their special brand of bluegrass, rock and roll and Montana party music.

For more information and to sign up for hikes or tours, visit www.wildmontana.org/50th.